Immediate effect of ultrasound and ischaemic compression techniques for the treatment of trapezius latent myofascial trigger points: A randomized controlled study.

Objetive:

To determine immediate effects of ischaemic compression and ultrasound for the treatment of myofascial trigger points in the trapezius muscle.

Methods:

A group of 66 volunteer subjects, all CEU-University Cardenal Herrera personnel, participated in this study. Subjects were healthy individuals, diagnosed with latent myofascial trigger points in the trapezius muscle. Subjects were randomly assigned into three groups: T1, which received ischaemic compression treatment for myofascial trigger points; T2, which received ultrasound and T3 (control), which received sham ultrasound treatment. The following data were recorded before and after each treatment: active range of motion of cervical rachis measured with cervical analog goniometer, basal electrical activity of muscle trapezius measured with surface electromyograph, and pressure tolerance of myofascial trigger points measured with visual analogue scale after applying a 2.5 kg-pressure using a pressure analog algometer.

Results:

The obtained results show a that the treatment of MTrPs in the trapezius muscle with IC and US originated a short-term improvement of cervical mobility, relaxation of trapezius, and reduction of its sensitivity. Thus, we can conclude by stating that these three parameters are related, since one single stimulus provoked changes in all of them.

The treatment of Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) in the trapezius muscle with ischaemic compression and ultrasound originated a short-term improvement of cervical mobility, relaxation of trapezius, and reduction of its sensitivity.

N/A

Ultrasound and ischaemic compression techniques.